Lots of Releases!
Releases are the best part of wildlife rehabilitation and we had quite a few this week. One of the most amazing was Red-tailed Hawk 18-313. She was hit by a car on June 17. It took several days for her to be able to stand, but 2 1/2 weeks later she was flying beautifully.
Zabrina faced south, towards an open field, but the hawk had a different idea (as is so often the case), immediately turning north. She flew perfectly, which is all that matters!
Volunteer Pam released a Sharp-shinned Hawk, the Black-crowned Night Heron and a Cassin’s Finch in the Tri-Cities on the Fourth of July. The next day, volunteers Tim and Liz returned a young Cooper’s Hawk to her family in Dayton. On Saturday, volunteer Bill returned another young Cooper’s Hawk to her family in Walla Walla. Also on Saturday volunteers Kennie and Janie returned to young Crows to their respective families in the Tri-Cities and released da Turkey Vulture near Prosser. The vulture hopped out of the box and sat on the ground for a minute, then flew up to a hop pole to get his bearings before flying off.
And Then There Was Sunday
It was a relatively quiet week with just 10 admissions… until Sunday when 8 more birds arrived! There have been 1053 admissions to BMW’s Pendleton and Tri-Cities centers this year, a 36% increase over 2017, and the year is only half over!
On Sunday there was a Crow, a Great Blue Heron (who died before reaching Pendleton), a Barn Owl and a Great Horned Owl had a total of 6 non repairable fractures. A tiny California Quail had no apparent injuries and was added to our small flock of 11 California quail. A fledgling Ring-billed Gull (below being held by Zabrina) appears to be uninjured and will be returned to its family ASAP.
A young Western Kingbird also appears to uninjured. Hopefully we can reunite it with its family in a few days when it is able to perch on a branch, as the nest is inaccessible.
Last, but not least, was a very well fed fledgling Barn Owl who fell from her nest under an overpass in Pendleton. She has a dislocated right shoulder, but, hopefully, will be releasable. She cast a nice pellet shortly after her intake exam.
Update on Bald Eagle 18-380
The Bald Eagle admitted a week ago with a severed wingtip is much happier now after completing his antibiotics, and being moved outside to the large flight pen. He is the tiny male on the right below. The adult on the left is an average-sized male. No two ways about it, the female in the middle, 18-006 who had the incredibly high lead level, is huge! We are consulting with Dr. Vickie Joseph of california, regarding how best to proceed toward her eventual release.
